Writers of the films Freedom Writers and Venus and the TV series ER and The New Adventures of Old Christine were among the recipients of this year's Humanitas Prizes, handed out during a luncheon ceremony Tuesday at the Hilton Universal.
The prize, which rewards film and TV scribes whose works "entertain, engage and enrich the viewing public," is handed out in eight categories, each of which carries a monetary prize of varying amounts. Twelve writers were named recipients this year.
In addition, writer Larry Gelbart, whose numerous credits range from the TV series M*A*S*H to the film Tootsie, was honored with the Kieser Award, named after producer and priest Fr. Ellwood "Bud" Kieser, who founded the Humanitas Prize. In his keynote address, Gelbart noted how the industry has changed since "M*A*S*H" was on the air in the 1970s and early '80s.
"(Our shows were) 26 minutes and 26 seconds," he said. "That's almost five more than the 22-minute new and improved half-hour (of today). Time used to fly; now it barely gets off the ground. What's next? ... '101 Arabian Nights?' 'Prince Lear'?"
On the other hand, he said, when it comes to politics and war, not much has changed since the Korean War-set "M*A*S*H" in terms of what's going on in the world today. "It was a questionable war decreed by a questionable president. ... (It's like) an endless stream of 'M*A*S*H' reruns," he said.
The prize, which rewards film and TV scribes whose works "entertain, engage and enrich the viewing public," is handed out in eight categories, each of which carries a monetary prize of varying amounts. Twelve writers were named recipients this year.
In addition, writer Larry Gelbart, whose numerous credits range from the TV series M*A*S*H to the film Tootsie, was honored with the Kieser Award, named after producer and priest Fr. Ellwood "Bud" Kieser, who founded the Humanitas Prize. In his keynote address, Gelbart noted how the industry has changed since "M*A*S*H" was on the air in the 1970s and early '80s.
"(Our shows were) 26 minutes and 26 seconds," he said. "That's almost five more than the 22-minute new and improved half-hour (of today). Time used to fly; now it barely gets off the ground. What's next? ... '101 Arabian Nights?' 'Prince Lear'?"
On the other hand, he said, when it comes to politics and war, not much has changed since the Korean War-set "M*A*S*H" in terms of what's going on in the world today. "It was a questionable war decreed by a questionable president. ... (It's like) an endless stream of 'M*A*S*H' reruns," he said.
- 6/27/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Writers on the films Amazing Grace, Freedom Writers and Venus along with scribes on a trio of medical-themed TV series -- NBC's Scrubs and ER and Fox's House -- are among the finalists for the 33rd annual Humanitas Prize.
The prize, which rewards film and TV writers whose work "honestly explores the complexities of the human experience and sheds light on the positive values of life," is handed out in eight categories, each of which carries a monetary prize of varying amounts. Twenty-eight writers were named finalists this year.
In the feature-film category, which bestows a $25,000 prize, the finalists are Steven Knight for Samuel Goldwyn Films/Roadside Attractions' Amazing Grace; Richard LaGravenese, who wrote the screenplay for Paramount Pictures' Freedom Writers; and Hanif Kureishi for Miramax Films' Venus.
Finalists in the Sundance feature-film category, which offers a $10,000 prize, are Newton I. Aduaka & Alain-Michel Blanc (writers) and Newton I. Aduaka (story) for Ezra, Adrienne Shelly for Fox Searchlight Pictures' Waitress and Salvatore Stabile for Where God Left His Shoes.
The TV finalists in the 30-minute category, which carries a $10,000 prize, are Scrubs writer Bill Callahan, who will compete with Jennifer Crittenden, who wrote the Oh God, Yes episode of CBS' The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Rob Lotterstein, who wrote the Kenny Doesn't Live Here Anymore episode of Fox's The War at Home.
Cited in the 60-minute TV category, which bestows a $15,000 prize, were "ER" writers R.
The prize, which rewards film and TV writers whose work "honestly explores the complexities of the human experience and sheds light on the positive values of life," is handed out in eight categories, each of which carries a monetary prize of varying amounts. Twenty-eight writers were named finalists this year.
In the feature-film category, which bestows a $25,000 prize, the finalists are Steven Knight for Samuel Goldwyn Films/Roadside Attractions' Amazing Grace; Richard LaGravenese, who wrote the screenplay for Paramount Pictures' Freedom Writers; and Hanif Kureishi for Miramax Films' Venus.
Finalists in the Sundance feature-film category, which offers a $10,000 prize, are Newton I. Aduaka & Alain-Michel Blanc (writers) and Newton I. Aduaka (story) for Ezra, Adrienne Shelly for Fox Searchlight Pictures' Waitress and Salvatore Stabile for Where God Left His Shoes.
The TV finalists in the 30-minute category, which carries a $10,000 prize, are Scrubs writer Bill Callahan, who will compete with Jennifer Crittenden, who wrote the Oh God, Yes episode of CBS' The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Rob Lotterstein, who wrote the Kenny Doesn't Live Here Anymore episode of Fox's The War at Home.
Cited in the 60-minute TV category, which bestows a $15,000 prize, were "ER" writers R.
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